Berry-box.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

E. M. AVERILL.

BERRY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1904;

NO MODEL.

inventor,

I I I lithe megs.

Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT GTEICE.

ELIAS M. AVERILL, OF SPARTA, MICHIGAN.

BERRY-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,300, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed April 23, 1904. Serial No. 20&,621. N0 model.)

To all whmit it 111/11, concern:

Beitknown that], ELIAS H. AVERILL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Berry-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to berry-boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap and thoroughly-efficient device for use by fruit-growers which may be folded into small compass for purposes'of shipment and of which the parts may readily be assembled to present the finishedarticle; furthermore, to provide for thorough ventilation of the contents of the box and to obviate danger of crushing the fruit when the boxes are placed one upon another within the shipping-crate.

'ith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts 'of a berry-box as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure I is aview in plan of the blank as it appears when folded for shipment. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the blank as it appears before folding to form the box. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective View of the box. Fig. 4 is the longitudinal section thereof.

The box of this invention is constructed, preferably, from pasteboard which may be glazed or otherwise treated to render it moisture proof. The blank 1, (shown in Fig. 2,) from which the box ismade, comprises a central rectangular portion 2,constituting the bottom of the box, from each side of which extend flaps 3, which when the blank is assembled to form the box constitute a part of the ends thereof, the flaps being divided by a slit 4: to permit them to occupy the position shown in Fig. 4 and also to allow the bottom 2 to present a triangular form, the object of this latter arrangement of the bottom being to pemit thorough ventilation of the contents of the box and also to obviate any crushing of the contained fruit when the boxes are piled one upon another within the shipping-crate. Forming a continuation of the bottom are flaps 5, which when theblank is folded to box form constitute the sides of the box, and projecting from the ends of these flaps in the direction of the end flaps 3 are looking members 6 and 7, the members or tongues 6 being each provided with a transverse slit 8 to receive the tongues 9 of the member 7, the latter tongues being longitudinally divided by a slit 10, which will permit of the two tongues thus formed to be slipped past each other to allow the locking-heads 11 to enter the slits 8 of the member 6, after which the tongues are again spread laterally and thus cause the rabbets 12 of the heads to engage with the terminals of the slits 8, and thus hold the parts positively assembled. The bottom is folded longitudinally along the dotted line A to present the triangular disposition of its parts. The side flaps 5 are folded along the the dotted lines B to bring them at right angles to the bottom, and the end'flaps and looking members are folded along the dotted lines C to bring these parts to their proper position.

In order to afford proper ventilation of the contents of the box, the bottom and sides are provided with a plurality of draft-openings 13, which in this instance are shown as slots angularly disposed with relation to the parts in which they are formed; but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement shown, as any other preferred form and disposition of draft-openings may be employed and still be within the scope of the invention. By preference the draft-openings in the bottom are disposed adjacent to the folding-line A, thus to prevent them as far as possible from becoming closed from the berries of another box when placed within a crate. The draft-openings of the side flaps are by preference disposed near their lower edges, th us to provide for thorough ventilation of the con tents of the box from the bottom upward.

In assembling the parts of the box the bottom is bent upward along the dotted line A, and the end flaps 3 are then folded upward. The side flaps are then brought at right angles to the bottom and bear against the inclined edges 14: of the end flaps, thereby bracing the sides against inward movement and operating in a positive manner to prevent crushing of the box from lateral pressure. The locking members are then folded around the end flaps, and the locking-heads are inserted through the slits 8 of the tongue 6, and when the rabbets 12 of the said heads are moved into engagement with the terminals of the slits the box will be positively assembled and ready for use.

The device of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction, can be stamped from sheets of pasteboard, and as all of the parts are integral the cost of the production of the article is reduced to a minimum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A foldable berry-box comprising a body portion provided with flaps the diagonally opposite terminals of which are formed respectively with locking-tongues and with lookingslits, and bifurcated end flaps having inclined edges adapted when the parts of the box are assembled to engage with the side flaps and brace the box against lateral pressure.

2. A foldable box coi'nprising a bottom portion adapted to be folded to angular or hipped form, side flaps projecting from the bottom portion and having their diagonally opposite terminals formed respectively with lockingtongues and locking-slits, and bifurcated end flaps provided with inclined outer edges adapted to bear against the sides of the box when the parts are assembled.

3. A foldable box provided with an angular or hipped bottom furnished with ventilatingapertures, side flaps projecting from the bottom and provided with ventilating-apertures adjacent to those on the bottom, the diagonally opposite terminals of the side flaps being formed respectively with locking-slits and bifurcated locking-tongues, and bifurcated end flaps having inclined edges adapted to bear against the side flaps when the parts of the box are assembled and brace them against inward pressure.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELIAS M. AVERILL.

Witnesses:

Du Er'ru ATKINSON, NELLIE KING. 

